LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Sunk deep in the cleft of the Great Rift Valley, one of the earth's most phenomenal geological features, ringed by shoals of extinct and dormant volcanoes and presided over by the menengai crater, one of the largest calderas of the world, lie the turquoise-shimmering waters of Lake Nakuru.

The Park is found 160km north-west of Nairobi at 1756 metres above level. It was officially declared a National park in 1968 but its history dates back to 1961. Dubbed 'the greatest bird spectacle on earth' due to the millions of fuchsia-pink flamingo that flock to feed on the teeming algae of its alkaline waters, Lake Nakuru is also an ornithologist's paradise. A uniquely rewarding game-viewing venue and a sanctuary for both black and white rhino. Its pink-frosted shores and sky-mirrored waters also yield some of the most evocatively beautiful photo-images in Africa.
Its no wonder in 1990 Lake Nakuru was declared a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance).

The Park offers an incredible 450 different species of water, fish-eating, terrestrial and migratory birds to include pelican, fish eagle, secretary bird, heron, egret, hammer kop and grebe

Established as Kenya's first rhino sanctuary, the Park now hosts one of the largest black and white rhino concentrations in the country.

The Parks fauna includes Thomson's and grant's gazelle, Colobus monkey, rock hyrax, hippo, leopard, lion, waterbuck, buffalo, striped hyena, Rothschild's giraffe, impala etc.

MAKALIA FALLS

The Flora includes over 550 different plant species, most notable ones are, Euphorbia forest, Alkaline grasslands, Yellow Fever tree forest, Olea forest Plain wooded forest.

WHERE TO STAY

There are two Game Lodges inside the park, Lake Nakuru Lodge (www.lakenakurulodge.com) and Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. (www.sarovahotels.com)

SAROVA LION HILL

You can also stay at Mbweha camp which is located just outside the Park, 15 minutes drive from Nderit gate. (www.mbwehacamp.com) and Flamingo Hill Camp.

CAMPING

If you are into camping, there are four camping sites in Lake Nakuru namely,

Njoro campsite
Makalia campsite
Kampi ya Nyati
Kampi ya nyuki